This episode begins with Jon lying as usual, telling first Christa and then Sandra that he’ll take them to the Final Four. He then tells the camera that his promises are like wicker furniture when a fat woman sits on it – easily broken. {P} Sandra tries to build an alliance of women against Burton and Jon, but Lil and Darrah won’t go along. Sandra stresses Burton first, then Jon, who is like a girl. Burton plays it cool, keeping his options to himself except with Jon, as they both plot to make it to the Final 2.
Tree mail brings word of the Reward Challenge, and hearing it, Sandra says if it’s water, she’s in trouble. And water it is, a water obstacle course in which teams of three, with first position doing the most swimming and diving, and third position the least. Sandra and Darrah get first positions, Lil and Christa second, and Jon and Burton do the least amount. Sandra is in trouble immediately, letting Darrah take the lead, and although Burton frets and scowls, the lead is too big to catch, and Darrah, Lil and Jon win the reward. They’re given their swimsuits and flown to an island resort spa.
There, they have a luxurious suite, massages, dinner, silk pajamas and showers. They enjoy dinner on the terrace with Jon showing off his dating skills, boasting of his food sense and that’s he more than just a pretty face. After dinner, lolling in their silk pajamas, Jon and Darrah want to talk strategy but Lil is tired, and after Jon hurts her feelings by patronizing her, Lil goes to bed, leaving the two to plot. They’re glad of the food and rest for the edge it will give them at the Immunity Challenge.
Sandra welcomes them back after their full breakfast, wanting to know all the details. Lil demurs, but Jon tells all, rubbing it in. He and Burton head off to bring each other up to date, and another round of lying and promising gets underway.
Christa is feeling vulnerable and is sure she’s going home. She’s talked with Burton, agreeing to vote against Sandra if it means she can stay on. Jon promises her that he’ll take her to the Final. At night, with Burton and Lil still awake, Lil asks him if he still intends that she go to the Final Two with him. Burton backtracks, telling her to take it one at a time, but Lil realizes he’s not going To live up to the promise he made her. He denies making the promise, but that trust is broken.
At the Immunity Challenge, firing flares from muskets at targets, with the first to get three hits the winner, the Survivor go three by three to aim and fire. Christa gets the first hit, and is in the lead with Darrah a close second until she narrowly misses, and Darrah gets another hit. Darrah wins immunity for a second time. Burton, Lil and Sandra each got one hit, and Jon got none.
Another frenzied bout of politicking ensues before Tribal Council, when host Jeff Probst asks the Survivors what they’ve learned about the game and what it means to them now. Jon smiles and lies through his teeth and says it is all about hope. When asked it the game is a license to lie, Burton says the game is competitive and faking out opponents is part of it. Sandra says she doesn’t want to go up against Lil, who everyone loves. Lil demurs, saying she doesn’t want to win because of nice, but by strategy. Christa says she’s lied at times, and knows she’s rubbed people the wrong way, but the whole thing is unpredictable.
Perhaps not. She was feeling vulnerable, and by a 4-2 vote, she’s the next person to join the jury.
Sandra must be feeling very lonely. She and Jon are the only ones left from the original Drake team, and Jon is absolutely out for Jon. Do you think she has a chance at being the Sole Survivor?
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